Dispensing device

ABSTRACT

A device for dispensing a volatile liquid as a vapor to an ambient environment, i.e., a room or vehicle interior, which device comprises a reservoir of the volatile liquid, and a porous element which permits the passage of vapor therethrough but does not permit the passage of the volatile liquid therethrough, characterized in that the device greatly decreases the likelihood of undesired spillage of the volatile liquid from the device when the device held in any orientation.

The present invention relates to improved dispensing devices. Moreparticularly the present invention relates to dispensing devices usefulfor the delivery of a volatile or evaporable material to an ambientenvironment, such as a room, or interior of a vehicle which dispensingdevices exhibit a reduced tendency for the undesired spillage of thevolatile liquid from the device when the device held in any orientation.

Various devices useful for the delivery of volatile materials such asfragrances, odor masking agents, insecticides, medicaments as well asother volatile materials which may have a cosmetic, insecticidal ormedical effect are known in the art. One particular class of suchdevices are those which are used for the delivery of any liquidcomposition which is volatile, or evaporable, to an ambient environment.Typically, such includes a reservoir or other container capable ofcontaining an amount of such a volatile material, which reservoir orother container includes a neck through which protrudes a wick. The wickoperates to transport the liquid by means of capillary action from theinterior of the reservoir to the ambient environment, into which itevaporates or volatilizes. Such devices are simple, but frequentlyeffective. In certain embodiments, such devices are supplied as part ofa larger apparatus, which may provide an external feature for staticdiffusion systems or it may include a means of diffusing the volatileliquid, such as a heat source, which may surround some or part of thewick, and when heated induces more rapid volatilization of the liquid,or a fan that causes more rapid volatilization of the liquid into theambient environment.

Nonetheless, such devices are not free from shortcomings. A particularproblem which plagues many prior art devices lies in the fact thatunwanted leakage of the liquid frequently occurs. Very often, the wickfails to provide a reliable liquid tight seal at the neck of thereservoir and when the reservoir is tilted or inverted, flow of theliquid past the wick and out of the reservoir is known to occur. Afurther problem is that subsequent to the manufacture of such devices,they may be subjected to rather broad ranges of temperature and pressuresubsequent to their manufacture and prior to their initial use by aconsumer. Such varying temperatures and pressures are frequentlyencountered during the shipping and warehousing of such devices to theultimate retail outlets in which they are sold. These varying pressuresand temperatures are often detrimental as elevated temperatures andsignificant pressure changes may undesirably induce a volatile liquid toevaporate prior to its use by a consumer, recondense in the spacebetween the wick and an overcap which is typically present and formdroplets or a pool of free liquid outside of the wick. This is adeleterious effect from a consumer standpoint as upon initial use ofsuch a device the consumer may contact the volatile liquid, and possiblysoil their hands and/or stain garments or surfaces due to the presenceof this free liquid. A further problem also lies in the fact than inorder for such devices to operate effectively, the pressure between theambient and the interior atmosphere within the reservoir must beequalized, else the capillary action of the wick will prematurely fail.Such premature failure is highly undesirable as the device will fail tooperate, even though liquid remains within the interior of thereservoir. Such is highly undesirable both from a technical, and from aconsumer standpoint. To solve such a problem, there is frequently theprovision of one or more vent holes whereby the pressure can beequalized between both the ambient environment and the interior of thereservoir. However, the provision of one or more such vent holesprovides a new problem, in fact such vent holes provide a fluid channelthrough which the liquid within the reservoir can spill or leak outparticularly when the reservoir is inverted. The inversion of thereservoir, is not an unusual condition, and frequently occurs during thetransport of a product containing such a reservoir and wick assembly, orduring the use of such a device such as by a consumer.

One exemplary device known to the art is described in European patentapplication EP 1088562. Therein is described a device for thecontrollable transfer of liquid which device includes a fluid reservoir,a volatile liquid contained within the fluid reservoir, a wick whichtransports the volatile liquid from the interior of the fluid reservoirto the ambient environment by means of capillary action, said wick beingencased within a non-porous holder sleeve. Fluid contact between thewick and the holder sleeve and can be interrupted by tilting orinverting the reservoir, thereby stopping the supply of the volatileliquid to the wick and to the ambient environment. However, this devicealso has been observed to suffer from “pooling” in that, duringtransport for after subjecting the device to changes in pressure aquantity although volatile liquid frequently collects upon the uppersurface of the holder sleeve. As has been noted previously, this ishighly undesirable from a consumer standpoint.

Accordingly, there is a real and urgent need in the art for improveddevices useful for the delivery of volatile materials such asfragrances, odor masking agents, insecticides, medicaments as well asother volatile materials which improved devices provide a decreasedlikelihood of undesired spillage.

The invention therefore provides a dispensing device which comprises areservoir containing a volatile liquid, and a porous wick characterizedin that the device greatly decreases the likelihood of pooling, and/orof undesired spillage of the volatile liquid from the device when thedevice held in any orientation.

In a first aspect, the dispensing device according to the inventioncomprises a reservoir containing a volatile liquid, a porous wick havinga lower portion adapted to be in fluid communication with said volatileliquid and an upper portion adapted to be in fluid communication with anambient environment, a lagging in contact with, but preferablysurrounding at least a part of the porous wick, a sleeve encasing atleast a part of the said lagging, and a disruptable seal which in afirst, sealing relationship provides a liquid tight barrier between thewick and the volatile liquid, and in a second, non-sealing relationshippermits for fluid communication between the wick and the volatile liquidin the reservoir.

In a second aspect, the dispensing device according to the inventioncomprises a reservoir containing a volatile liquid, a porous wick havinga lower portion in fluid communication with said volatile liquid and anupper portion in communication with an ambient environment, a fitmentwhich includes a vent between the reservoir and the ambient environment,and a lagging interposed between the vent and the ambient environment.

In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a dispensing devicewhich comprises a reservoir containing a volatile liquid, a porous wickhaving a lower portion adapted to be in fluid communication with saidvolatile liquid and an upper portion adapted to be in fluidcommunication with an ambient environment, a lagging in contact with,but preferably surrounding at least a part of the porous wick, a sleeveencasing at least a part of the said lagging said sleeve including avent between the reservoir and the ambient environment, and adisruptable seal which in a first, sealing relationship provides aliquid tight barrier between the wick and the volatile liquid, and in asecond, non-sealing relationship permits for fluid communication betweenthe wick and the volatile liquid in the reservoir.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided adispensing device which comprises a reservoir containing a volatileliquid, a porous wick having a lower portion adapted to be in fluidcommunication with said volatile liquid and an upper portion adapted tobe in fluid communication with an ambient environment, a vent betweenthe reservoir and the ambient environment, and an overcap which in aclosed relationship provides a vapor tight barrier between the upperportion of the porous wick and the ambient environment as well asprovides a liquid tight seal between at least a portion of the overcapand the vent.

FIG. 1 depicts a dispensing device according to the first aspect of theinvention.

FIG. 2 depicts a further view of the dispensing device according to FIG.1

FIG. 3 shows a further view of the dispensing device of FIGS. 1 and 2,but in a horizontal orientation.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of FIG. 1 having adifferent wick configuration.

FIG. 5 depicts a dispensing device according to a second aspect of theinvention.

FIG. 6A depicts an alternative dispensing device according to the secondaspect of the invention.

FIG. 6B depicts a portion of the dispensing device of the FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A depicts a further alternative dispensing device according to thesecond aspect of the invention.

FIG. 7B depicts a portion of the dispensing device of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8 depicts a dispensing device according to the third aspect of theinvention.

FIG. 9 depicts a dispensing device according to the fourth aspect of theinvention.

FIG. 10 depicts an alternative embodiment of a dispensing deviceaccording to the fourth aspect of the invention.

FIG. 11A-C depict a particular design of wick for use in the invention.

Turning now to FIG. 1 therein is depicted a dispensing device 10according to a first aspect of the invention. The dispensing device 10includes a reservoir 15 suited for containing quantity of a volatileliquid 20. The reservoir 15 includes a neck 25, through which passes aporous wick 30. The porous wick 30 includes both a lower portion 40within the interior of the reservoir 15 adapted to be in fluidcommunication with said volatile liquid, as well as an upper portion 45exterior of the reservoir 15 which is adapted to be in fluidcommunication with an ambient environment. The porous wick 30 may bedisplaced and is moveable within a lagging 50 which surrounds at least apart of the lower portion 40 of the porous wick. The lagging 50 itselfis encased by a sleeve 55 which located in the interior of the reservoir15, and which sleeve 55 is downwardly dependent from a fitment 60 fittedinto the neck 25 of the reservoir 15. This sleeve 55 provides a liquidtight barrier between the contents of the reservoir 15, viz., thevolatile liquid 20 and the lagging 50 and the wick 30 when a disruptableseal 65 is in a first, sealing relationship. However, when the wick 30is displaced, disrupting the seal 65 then a second, non-sealingrelationship is established which permits for fluid communicationbetween the wick, lagging and the volatile liquid in the reservoir.Desirably, as shown, the lower portion 40 of the porous wick 30 istapered so to provide facilitate in disrupting, e.g., puncturing of thedisruptable seal 65. This second non-sealing relationship is depicted inFIG. 2, and illustrates fluid contact between the volatile liquid 20,and both the lower portion 40 of the porous wick 30, and with the lowerend 70 of the lagging 50.

The operative principles of the first aspect of the invention will nowbe described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of the invention asdiscussed previously, which is representative of a dispensing device inits inactivated state. What is meant to be understood by its“inactivated state” is simply that the arrangement of the elementsdiscussed previously are disposed or positioned such that a liquid tightbarrier exists between the volatile liquid 20 disposed within thereservoir and between the porous wick and the lagging. In thisinactivated state, the dispensing device is eminently suitable forhandling, transport, and delivery to the ultimate consumer as there islittle or no likelihood that the volatile liquid 20 can leak via thewick or via the lagging. This is assured due to the presence of thedisruptable seal 65 which also provides a liquid tight barrier betweenthe volatile liquid 20 disposed within the reservoir and between theporous wick 30 and the lagging 50. It is however to be stated that whilethe presence of the disruptable seal 65 is preferred, it may be omitted.As can be further seen from FIG. 1, the upper end 75 of the lagging 50is in fluid communication with the ambient environment; the lagging 50is sufficiently porous such that the relative pressure between theambient and the interior atmosphere within the reservoir 15 may beequalized. Such pressure equalization ensures that the capillary actionof the wick 30 will not prematurely fail.

FIG. 2 illustrates the first preferred embodiment of the invention inits activated state. What is meant to be understood by its “activatedstate” is simply that the arrangement of the elements discussedpreviously are disposed or positioned such that fluid communicationexists between the volatile liquid 20 disposed within the reservoir andbetween the porous wick 30 and the lagging 50. According to thisembodiment, disruption of the seal 65 is simply achieved by thedisplacement of the wick 30 such that the lower portion 40 of the porouswick 30 breaks the seal between the disruptable seal 65 between thevolatile liquid 20 disposed within the reservoir and between the porouswick 30 and the lagging 50, and thereby permitting for liquidcommunication between the volatile liquid 20 and the porous wick 30 andwith the lagging 50.

FIG. 3 illustrates a characterizing feature of the first preferredembodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 illustrates the embodiment of FIGS.1 and 2, in a displaced position such that the dispensing device is in ahorizontal orientation as depicted by arrow “B”, as opposed to the priorvertical orientation as depicted by arrows “A” in FIGS. 1 and 2. Arrows“A” and “B” are perpendicular with respect to each other. FIG. 3 isintended to show that, when the disruptable seal 65 is disrupted, theporosity of the wick 30 and the lagging 50 is sufficient such that asufficient volume of the volatile liquid 20 originally disposed in thereservoir 20 is absorbed into the wick 30 and lagging such that theremaining volume of volatile liquid 20 is insufficient to contact thelagging 50 or the wick 30 when the dispensing device is placed in ahorizontal orientation. As such, insufficient volatile liquid 20 ispresent in the reservoir 15 but not in the wick 30 or lagging 50 suchthat the volatile liquid 20 may spill or leak when the reservoir istilted to a horizontal orientation such as shown in FIG. 3, or to aninverted orientation (not shown.)

A further advantage of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is thatas the lagging 50 is in physical contact with the wick 30, when anyvolatile liquid 20 is absorbed by the lagging 50, physical transfer ofthe volatile liquid 20 from the lagging 50 to the wick 20 occurs, andthe capillary action of the wick 30 ensures that the volatile liquid istransferred to the upper part 45 of the wick 30 from which it mayvolatilize or evaporate into an ambient environment.

FIG. 4 depicts an alternative embodiment of FIG. 1 having a differentwick configuration. Unlike the wick 30 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the wick 80of FIG. 4 includes a vent channel 85, which provides for airflow betweenthe ambient environment, and the interior of the reservoir 15 such thatthe relative pressure between the ambient and the interior atmospherewithin the reservoir may be equalized. In this embodiment, the ventchannel 85 is a hollow channel within the interior of the wick 80 and islocated along the length of the wick 80, preferably approximately alongthe central axis of the wick as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 illustrates a dispensing device 100 according to a second aspectof the invention. The dispensing device 100 includes many of the sameelements illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, including a reservoir 15 containing avolatile liquid 20, a porous wick 30 having a lower portion 40 and anupper portion 45 and a fitment 60 inserted within the neck 25 of thereservoir 15 which is used to retain the wick 30 such that the lowerportion 40 is in fluid communication with said volatile liquid 20 and anupper portion 45 of the wick is in fluid communication with an ambientenvironment. According to the present embodiment, there is also presenta vent 90, and as the lagging, an absorbent washer 95 interposed betweenthe vent 90 and the ambient environment. According to this embodiment,the absorbent washer 95 functions to absorb the flow of the volatileliquid 20 in case the dispensing device is tilted or displaced from itsvertical orientation (as shown by arrow “A”) to a horizontal orientation(as shown by arrow “B”) or is otherwise inverted such that the volatileliquid 20 is permitted to flow into the vent 90. Due to the presence ofthe absorbent washer 95 however, any volatile liquid 20 exiting thereservoir 15 and the vent 90 would become entrained in the absorbentwasher 95 and would eventually evaporate or volatilize into the ambientenvironment. Further, as the absorbent washer 95 is not pressure-tightit would permit for the equalization of pressure between the ambientenvironment, and the interior of the reservoir 15 such that the relativepressure between the ambient and the interior atmosphere within thereservoir may be equalized.

FIG. 6A depicts an alternative dispensing device 120 according to thesecond aspect of the invention. The dispensing device 120 includes areservoir 15 containing a volatile liquid 20, a porous wick 30 having alower portion 40 and an upper portion 45 and a fitment 60 insertedwithin the neck 25 of the reservoir 15 which is used to retain the wick30 such that the lower portion 40 is in fluid communication with saidvolatile liquid 20 and an upper portion 45 of the wick is in fluidcommunication with an ambient environment. According to the presentembodiment, there is also present a vent 90 indicated by a dotted line,and as the lagging, an absorbent washer 95 interposed between the ventand the ambient environment. As described previously with reference toFIG. 5 the lagging functions to absorb the flow of volatile liquid 20 incase the dispensing device 120 is tilted or displaced from its verticalorientation (as shown by arrow “A”) to a horizontal orientation (asshown by arrow “B”) or is otherwise inverted such that the volatileliquid 20 is permitted to flow into the vent. Likewise, should anyvolatile liquid 20 exit the reservoir 15 via the vent, it would becomeentrained in the absorbent washer 95 and would eventually evaporate orvolatilize into the ambient environment. Further, as the absorbentwasher 95 is not pressure-tight, it would permit for pressureequalization between the ambient environment and the interior of thereservoir 15. FIG. 6B depicts a cross-section of the lower portion 40 ofthe wick and to the fitment 60 and to the vent 90; the vent is a recesswithin the fitment 60 and which runs along the length of the fitment 60.In the particular embodiment in FIG. 6B, the vent 90 is bounded on oneside by the wick 40. Viewing now FIG. 6A hand 6B together, it will beunderstood that the vent 90 extends from within the reservoir 15 andprovides means for the passage of air along the length of the fitment 60to the lagging, here the absorbent washer 95.

FIG. 7A depicts a further alternative dispensing device 140 according tothe second aspect of the invention. The dispensing device 120 includes areservoir 15 containing a volatile liquid 20, a porous wick 30 having alower portion 40 and an upper portion 45 and a fitment 60 insertedwithin the neck 25 of the reservoir 15 which is used to retain the wick30 such that the lower portion 40 is in fluid communication with saidvolatile liquid 20 and an upper portion 45 of the wick is in fluidcommunication with an ambient environment. According to the presentembodiment, there is also present at least one vent, here two vents arevisible 90A and 90B and as the lagging, an absorbent washer 95interposed between the vent and the ambient environment. As describedpreviously with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6A the lagging functions toabsorb the flow of volatile liquid 20 in case the dispensing device 140is tilted or displaced from its vertical orientation (as shown by arrow“A”) to a horizontal orientation (as shown by arrow “B”) or is otherwiseinverted such that the volatile liquid 20 is permitted to flow into thevent 90A, 90B. Likewise, should any volatile liquid 20 exit thereservoir 15 via the vent 90A, 90B it would become entrained in theabsorbent washer 95 and would eventually evaporate or volatilize intothe ambient environment. Further, as the absorbent washer 95 is notpressure-tight, it would permit for pressure equalization between theambient environment and the interior of the reservoir 15. FIG. 7Bdepicts a cross-section of the lower portion 40 of the wick and thefitment 60 containing the two vents 90A, 90B. As illustrated the vents90A, 90B are two passages which runs along the length of the fitment 60.Viewing now FIGS. 6A and 6B, it will be understood that the vent 90extends from within the reservoir 15 and provides means for the passageof air along the length of the fitment 60 to the lagging, here theabsorbent washer 95. It is to be understood that one or more vents maybe present in either of the either of the embodiments according to thesecond aspect of the invention.

FIG. 8 depicts a dispensing device according to the third aspect of theinvention. The dispensing device 160 shares certain elements in commonwith prior aspects of the invention. The dispensing device 160 includesa reservoir 15 containing a volatile liquid 20, a porous wick 30 havinga lower portion 40 adapted to be in fluid communication with saidvolatile liquid and an upper portion 45 adapted to be in fluidcommunication with an ambient environment, a lagging 50 in contact with,but preferably surrounding at least a part of the porous wick 30, asleeve 55 encasing at least a part of the said lagging 50 said sleeveincluding a vent 90 between the reservoir 15 and the ambientenvironment, and a disruptable seal 65 which in a first, sealingrelationship provides a liquid tight barrier between the wick 30 and thevolatile liquid 15, and in a second, non-sealing relationship permitsfor fluid communication between the wick 30 and the volatile liquid inthe reservoir 15. Optionally the dispensing device 160 may also includefurther lagging, preferably in the form of an absorbent washer 95interposed between the vent 90 and the ambient environment. Thisoptional element is illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 depicts a dispensing device according to the fourth aspect of theinvention. Therein is provided a dispensing device 180 comprising whichshares certain common elements with prior aspects of the invention. Thedispensing device 180 includes a reservoir 15 containing a volatileliquid 20, a porous wick 30 having a lower portion 40 adapted to be influid communication with said volatile liquid and an upper portion 45adapted to be in fluid communication with an ambient environment, a vent90 between the reservoir 15 and the ambient environment. The dispensingdevice 180 further includes a removable overcap 190 which in a closedrelationship with the reservoir 15, provides a vapor tight barrierbetween the upper portion 45 of the porous wick 30 and the ambientenvironment as well as provides a liquid tight seal between at least aportion of the overcap 190 and the vent 90. With specific reference toFIG. 9, there is provided a fitment 60 which is inserted within the neck25 of the reservoir 15; the fitment functions to provide a support forthe porous wick 30. The fitment also includes at least one vent 90passing therethrough such that when the overcap 190 is removed, the vent90 permits for pressure equalization between the ambient environment andthe interior of the reservoir 15. The removable overcap 190 includes acontact face 192 which abuts the top surface 62 of the fitment 60. Whenthe removable overcap 190 is in a closed relationship with the reservoir15, its contact face 192 abuts the top surface 60 of the fitment 62 andforms an liquid tight seal with the vent 90, thereby denying the passageof any of the volatile liquid 20 out from the vent 90 should bedispensing device 180 be tilted or inverted.

FIG. 10 depicts an alternative embodiment of a dispensing deviceaccording to the fourth aspect of the invention. Therein is provided adispensing device 180 comprising which shares certain common elementswith prior aspects of the invention. The dispensing device 180 includesa reservoir 15 containing a volatile liquid 20, a porous wick 30 havinga lower portion 40 adapted to be in fluid communication with saidvolatile liquid and an upper portion 45 adapted to be in fluidcommunication with an ambient environment, a vent 90 within the porouswick 30 between the reservoir 15 and the ambient environment. Thedispensing device 180 further includes a removable overcap 190 which ina closed relationship with the reservoir 15, provides a vapor tightbarrier between the upper portion 45 of the porous wick 30 and theambient environment as well as provides a liquid tight seal between atleast a portion of the overcap 190 and the vent 90. With specificreference to FIG. 10, there is provided a fitment 60 which is insertedwithin the neck 25 of the reservoir 15; the fitment functions to providea support for the porous wick 30. The vent 90 permits for pressureequalization between the ambient environment and the interior of thereservoir 15. The removable overcap 190 includes a contact plug 194which abuts the vent 90. When the removable overcap 190 is in a closedrelationship with the reservoir 15, the contact plug 194 forms an liquidtight seal with the vent 90, thereby denying the passage of any of thevolatile liquid 20 out from the vent 90 should be dispensing device 180be tilted or inverted.

FIGS. 11A-C depict three vented wicks at can be used in the variousembodiments of the present invention. All three involve a wick that fitswithin a sleeve of any suitable impermeable material, such as glass orplastics. In FIG. 11A, a vent is provided by means of a longitudinalgroove 301 of semicircular cross-section provided in the side of acylindrical wick 302. When this wick is inserted into a sleeve 303, thesleeve and the groove form a vent. In FIGS. 11B and 11C, the wickconsists of two hemi-cylindrical portions that fit together to form acylinder. In FIG. 11B, a longitudinal groove 304 is provided in a flatface of one hemi-cylindrical wick portion 305, and the combining of thishemi-cylindrical portion with a second hemi-cylindrical portion 306having no groove in its flat face within a sleeve (not shown) forms avent of seimcircular cross-section. In FIG. 11C, the flat faces of bothhemi-cylindrical portions have corresponding longitudinal grooves ofsemicircular cross-section, such that the combination of the twoportions within a sleeve (not shown) forms a vent 307 of circularcross-section. The skilled person will readily be able to ascertainsuitable embodiments of the invention in which these vented wicks may beusefully used.

With regard to the various elements of the dispensing devices accordingto the present invention, the fitment 60, the sleeve 55 and thereservoir 15 may be produced from any material which can be suitablyformed or shaped into forms appropriate to fulfilling the functionsdescribed above. Exemplary materials are non-porous materials which, byway of non-limiting example, include glass, ceramic materials, metals,as well as various polymers including high density polyolefinsespecially high density polyethylene, polyalkylene terephthalates, suchas polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, Berex®, as well asother materials which are not deleteriously affected by the volatileliquid. Desirably the reservoir 15 is formed of a clear or translucentmaterial, which may be optionally colored such as a glass or suitablepolymer. The fitment 60 and sleeve 55 may be formed as a single unit, orformed from discrete parts which are thereafter assembled. Polymericmaterials are particularly suited for forming the fitment 60 and sleeve55 as such are typically readily moldable, although of course othermaterials may be used as well.

With regard to the reservoir, 15, the reservoir 15 may be of any shape,form or configuration which is suited to the containment of the volatileliquid which is to be provided therein. Thus, various shapes andconfigurations of the reservoir 15 may be based on aesthetic reasonshaving pleasing forms and shapes may be produced.

With regard to the wick which is included in the dispensing devicesaccording to the present invention, the wick may be formed of known artmaterials. Such materials include, by way of non-limiting example, thosebased on natural or synthetic fibers, woven or non-woven fabrics, cords,rods or other articles, porous media such a those based on cellulosessuch as cardboard-based and paper-based wicks, graphite and carbonaceouswicks, as well as porous synthetic polymers and porous ceramicmaterials. Such wicks are commercially available from a variety ofsources, including porous synthetic polymers from Porex Corp.,(Fairburn, Ga., USA) and Micropore Plastics Inc. (Stone Mountain, Ga.)as well as porous ceramics available from Rauschert GmbH & Co.-KG(Germany). With regard to the wick, it is only required that it becapable of absorbing the volatile liquid 20 in the reservoir 15, andtransport it by means of capillary action.

With regard to the lagging, this element may be formed of any absorbentmaterial which will have sufficient absorbency in order to absorb asufficient volume of the volatile liquid originally disposed in thereservoir when both the wick and lagging come into liquid contact withthe volatile liquid such that the remaining volume of volatile liquid inthe reservoir is insufficient to contact the lagging or the wick whenthe dispensing device is placed in a horizontal orientation. It is to beunderstood that according to especially preferred embodiments, the unitabsorbency (i.e., the absorbency per unit mass and/or unit volume) ofthe lagging is at least equal to, or is preferably greater than the unitabsorbency of the wick. Unlike the wick however, the lagging need not bea material which provides capillary transport to an absorbed liquid, butmay merely be an absorbent material.

It is to be understood that in accordance with the first and thirdaspects of the invention, that careful consideration of the volumetriccapacity of the lagging, and of the wick, as well as the relativedimensions of the wick and lagging be taken into consideration such thatafter disruption of the disruptable seal, they will absorb a sufficientamount of the volatile originally disposed in the reservoir such thatthe remaining volume of volatile liquid in the reservoir is insufficientto contact the lagging or the wick when the dispensing device is placedin a horizontal orientation.

With regard to the disruptable seal this element may be formed from anynon-porous material. Non-limiting examples of suitable non-porousmaterials include films, foils, single- or multi-layered laminatesformed from synthetic polymers, metals, metallic foils, or combinationsof two or more such materials. The disruptable seal element may beconveniently affixed to, or inserted within the sleeve so to deny fluidcontact between the volatile liquid, and both the lower portion of theporous wick, and with the lower end of the lagging. This disruptableseal element by affixed by any physical method (physical insertion,crimping, etc.) or by the use of a chemical agent particularly anadhesive substance interposed between at least portions of thedisruptable seal element and the wall. Preferably however thedisruptable seal is formed of a film which can be pierced or breached bythe displacement of the wick, which wick is formed of a material havingsufficient rigidity and strength so to be capable of piercing orbreaching the disruptable seal.

The volatile liquid which may be used in the dispensing devices taughtherein may be any volatile or evaporable material, but is desirably oneor more liquids which have a cosmetic effect such as a fragrancing orodor masking effect such as may be based on one or more essential oils,or volatile liquids which have an insecticidal effect or a medicaleffect.

By way of non-limiting example, useful essential oils include one ormore of: anethole 20/21 natural, aniseed oil china star, aniseed oilglobe brand, balsam (Peru), basil oil (India), black pepper oil, blackpepper oleoresin 40/20, Bois de Rose (Brazil) FOB, borneol flakes(China), camphor oil, canaga oil (Java), cardamom oil, cassia oil(China), cedarwood oil (China), cinnamon bark oil, cinnamon leaf oil,citronella oil, clove bud oil, clove leaf, coriander (Russia), coumarin(China), cyclamen aldehyde, diphenyl oxide, ethyl vanillin, eucalyptol,eucalyptus oil, eucalyptus citriodora, fennel oil, geranium oil, gingeroil, ginger oleoresin (India), white grapefruit oil, guaiacwood oil,gurjun balsam, heliotropin, isobornyl acetate, isolongifolene, juniperberry oil, L-methyl acetate, lavender oil, lemon oil, lemongrass oil,lime oil, litsea cubeba oil, longifolene, menthol, methyl cedryl ketone,methyl chavicol, methyl salicylate, musk ambrette, musk ketone, muskxylol, nutmeg oil, orange oil, patchouli oil, peppermint oil, phenylethyl alcohol, pimento berry oil, pimento leaf oil, rosalin, sandalwoodoil, sandenol, sage oil, clary sage, sassafras oil, spearmint oil, spikelavender, tagetes, tea tree oil, vanilin, vetyver oil (Java),wintergreen.

These and other suitable materials which may be useful in the volatileliquid may be commercially obtained from a variety of suppliersincluding: Givaudan Corp. (Teaneck, N.J.); Berje Inc. (Bloomfield,N.J.); BBA Aroma Chemical Div. of Union Camp Corp. (Wayne, N.J.);Firmenich Inc. (Plainsboro N.J.); Quest International Fragrances Inc.(Mt. Olive Township, N.J.); Robertet Fragrances Inc. (Oakland, N.J.), orfrom other suppliers not necessarily listed herein.

The volatile liquids may be provided in the form of neat compositions,or may be provides as aqueous mixtures, organic mixtures oraqueous-organic mixtures which include of one or more volatile orevaporable materials.

Although not shown in several of the Figures, several further elementsand features are contemplated as clearly falling within the scope of theinvention. One such element is a removable overcap which may be used toencase at least the upper part of the wick such that, subsequent toassembly and prior to use, the consumer necessarily removed the overcap(which is typically discarded) thereby exposing the wick to the ambientenvironment, thereby initiating the delivery of volatile liquid thereto.Such an overcap may be removably affixed by any conventional means, suchas by the use of corresponding mating threads on both the overcap and atleast a portion of the reservoir, typically in the neck region thereof.Alternately such an overcap may be merely friction fitted to thereservoir, such that a good seal is formed between a part of the overcapand a part of the reservoir.

The dispensing devices according to the invention are activated byremoval of the overcap (when present) and by permitting the volatileliquid to transfer via capillary action up the porous wick from thelower part to the upper part, from whence it is permitted to volatilizeinto an ambient environment. Where an embodiment includes a disruptableseal as described herein, subsequent to the removal of the overcap (whenpresent) the wick is displaced so to disrupt the disruptable seal andthereby permit fluid communication between the wick and the volatileliquid. Thereafter, the volatile liquid to transfers via capillaryaction up the wick and volatilize into an ambient environment asdescribed above.

The dispensing device according to the invention may be used to dispensea volatile liquid in and of itself, or the dispensing device may be usedin conjunction with a further apparatus such as in a heated vaporizerdevice wherein at least a portion of the dispensing device is heated soto controllably induce the rate of delivery of the volatile liquid tothe ambient environment. In conjunction with such a heated vaporizerdevice the dispensing device is particularly conveniently used as arefill for said heated vaporizer device. Similarly, the dispensingdevice may be used in conjunction with a further apparatus such as in adevice which induces an airflow, such as by the use of a fan or otherdevice, wherein at least a portion of the dispensing device, usually thewick is inserted in the induced airflow so to controllably induce therate of delivery of the volatile liquid to the ambient environment.

The dispensing device according to the invention may be used to dispensea volatile liquid in any ambient environment. Non-limiting examples ofambient environments include interior spaces of buildings or otherstructures such as rooms, hallways, elevators, common areas, closets, aswell as the interior spaces of vehicles such as automobile interiors,boat interiors, aircraft cabins, and the like.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative forms, it is to be understood that specific embodimentsthereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings which are notintended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed; onthe contrary the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalentsand alternatives falling within the scope and spirit of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

1. A dispensing device for the delivery of a volatile liquid to an ambient environment comprising: a reservoir containing a volatile liquid; a porous wick having a lower portion adapted to be in fluid communication with said volatile liquid and an upper portion adapted to be in fluid communication with an ambient environment; a lagging in contact at least a part of the porous wick; a sleeve encasing at least a part of the lagging; a disruptable seal which in a first, sealing relationship provides a liquid tight barrier between the wick and the volatile liquid, and in a second, non-sealing relationship permits for fluid communication between the wick and the volatile liquid in the reservoir.
 2. A dispensing device for the delivery of a volatile liquid to an ambient environment comprising: a reservoir containing a volatile liquid; a porous wick having a lower portion in fluid communication with said volatile liquid and an upper portion in communication with an ambient environment; a fitment which includes a vent between the reservoir and the ambient environment; and, a lagging interposed between the vent and the ambient environment.
 3. A dispensing device for the delivery of a volatile liquid to an ambient environment comprising: a reservoir containing a volatile liquid; a porous wick having a lower portion adapted to be in fluid communication with said volatile liquid and an upper portion adapted to be in fluid communication with an ambient environment; a lagging in contact with at least a part of the porous wick; a sleeve encasing at least a part of the said lagging, said sleeve including a vent between the reservoir and the ambient environment; and, a disruptable seal which in a first, sealing relationship provides a liquid tight barrier between the wick and the volatile liquid, and in a second, non-sealing relationship permits for fluid communication between the wick and the volatile liquid in the reservoir.
 4. A dispensing device for the delivery of a volatile liquid to an ambient environment comprising: a reservoir containing a volatile liquid; a porous wick having a lower portion adapted to be in fluid communication with said volatile liquid and an upper portion adapted to be in fluid communication with an ambient environment; a vent between the reservoir and the ambient environment; and, an overcap which in a closed relationship provides a vapor tight barrier between the upper portion of the porous wick and the ambient environment as well as provides a liquid tight seal between at least a portion of the overcap and the vent. 